He loves me.

She’d been repeating it over and over, remembering the way his deep timber vibrated through her and the way his eyes held hers. Three little words, but she’d never be the same. A twinge of panic coursed through her. Why hadn’t he called? Was he upset that she hadn’t said it back?

Checking her phone again, January tightened the belt on her trench coat and steadied her nerves. Sliding on the strappy shoes he was so fond of and steeling her eyes at her reflection, she gave herself a final pep talk.

Deep breaths, you can do this. He loves you. HE LOVES YOU! Now, go get him.

“Wowsers. Do you have anything on underneath there?” Michael whistled as he walked out of his bedroom in his sweats and gym tank.

“Of course I do.” She cinched the belt on the coat tighter around her waist. “It’s just not appropriate for this time of day.”

“Going to see Brecken?”

“Yes, I’m going to surprise him at this office. What are you doing up?”

“Meeting Carrie for lunch.”

“You must like her to be up at this hour.”

“This schedule is going to kill me. Dating someone who works a traditional nine-to-five job is harder than I remember.”

She snorted. “You say that like you’ve tried it so many times before.”

“Get out of here while I’m still speaking to you.” He grimaced playfully. “Oh, your dad called the landline again. Have you been screening him on your cell?”

“I’ve been busy,” she admitted. “I’ll call him later.” She kissed the air. “See you tonight.”

* * *

It was the first time she’d been to Brecken’s office, but it felt as if she could have picked it out even without the large black lettering signage that hung on the side of the building.

Everything about the interior spoke to his personality. Colorful and eccentric art lined the hallway, and the office buzzed with quiet chatter and the pecking of fingers on keyboards.

She knew she should have expected to see Nadia—the woman was his assistant, after all—but she was still a bit thrown off balance when she rounded the corner and found the woman herself sitting behind the large desk. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a chic bun that made her neck look long and delicate. Mustering up all her courage, she walked toward her.

Nadia stood from behind her desk and walked around to greet her like January imagined she did for all Brecken’s appointments. Long, lean legs, a rack that made even January’s eyes fall to her chest, and a smile that could be as warm as is it could be frosty. She hated it that Brecken had slept with her. Hated it even more that he still saw her every day.

“He’s on a call. Not to be disturbed.” Nadia motioned with her head to the closed door to her left.

“I’ll wait.”

“Can I get you a coffee or a water?” Nadia asked sweetly.

“No, thank you.”

With a polite nod, she walked a few steps back toward her desk and stopped. “I suppose Brecken has told you the happy news?”

January’s body set for defensive mode. “I’m not sure what good news you mean.”

“Brecken and I are expecting!” Nadia looked lovingly down at her stomach.

“Expecting? Like a baby?” The words sounded ridiculous even to her own ears.

“Yes. We just found out. I’m due in late September.”

Nadia’s smile was wide and a bit… triumphant. “I’m only a few weeks along, but we’re so happy. Brecken has insisted on coming with me to the first doctor’s appointment. He really is one of the good ones, isn’t he?”

The door to Brecken’s office swung open, and he appeared. Her breath caught in her throat and butterflies took over her stomach. He turned his head and their eyes met. The smile on her face fell. He looked tired and crumpled. His usual perfectly tailored outfit was wrinkled, the tie hanging loose around his neck.

A pit of unease opened in her stomach, and she knew it was true.

He started to walk toward her, but Nadia stepped in front of him. She snaked a hand up his chest and rested her head against him. January’s stomach dropped as she watched Brecken’s face go pale, his jaw flex. Then Nadia’s eyes fell on January, and they turned icy.

“I just told her the good news,” Nadia said.

Brecken recoiled away from Nadia as if he just realized she was touching him. He stalked toward her, surprising her by kissing her roughly. A whiff of alcohol hit her nose, and she pulled back. He’d been drinking, but for how long? Is this why she hadn't heard from him?

“Have you been drinking?”

Grabbing her hand, Brecken pulled her into his office and slammed the door behind them so hard she jumped.

“Brecken, what the hell is going on? Is it true?”

His voice was so quiet she barely heard his response. “Yes.”

“When—” her voice caught in her throat. “When was the last time you slept with her?”

“I told you it was before you.”

“When?”

“The day before you started at the ranch.”

It shouldn’t have hurt so much that he’d slept with Nadia after they’d met. They’d been nothing. Yet, it stung.

She waited for him to say something. Anything. He had a shell-shocked look on his face that she wanted to slap right off.

“What now?”

“I don’t know. I need some time to figure this out.”

She hadn’t meant what was next for them, but his response put a question mark over the future of their relationship. What the hell was she supposed to say to that? If she corrected him, she came off looking like a cold-hearted woman who didn’t care about the baby, but if she didn’t, then she ran the risk of him thinking that she was okay with whatever space he needed to put between them. That she wasn’t willing to stand by his side through whatever twists and turns this baby would put in front of them.

“I have an obligation to Nadia whether I like it or not. Seeing you could be problematic.”

“Problematic?” Her eyes widened as she repeated the word back to him.

He ran a hand through his hair, and she almost had a pang of sympathy for him. Almost.

“Fuck, January. I’m going to be a father. My priorities have to change.”

“I don’t see how that has anything to do with us. Unless, of course, you’ve decided that you really want to be with her instead.”

“I’m not my father. I won’t have a baby and just shit on my responsibilities.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

He ran both hands through his dark mane this time and blew out a breath. “I just need some time to figure this out.”

“Fine,” she said, heading to the door and placing her hand on the knob. She took one last look at him. “Take all the time you need.”